Total Newbie, Still Searching, Many Questions

Hey Guys

Great web site. I'm a total beginner. I'm moving up from my Rav4. I have questions.

On occasion I'd like to be able to tow an early 911 on an open trailer. Not sure what the total weight would be. The car is about 2300 lbs. No trailer yet. Other than that the truck would be my daily driver, schlepping some garden related stuff from time to time. I'm hoping to find a clean, used 2nd gen. Access Cab 4x4 TRD model, thinking the tow package would be very useful.

Would it be foolish even considering a 1st gen Tacoma?

If I'm budget challenged would it be wiser to give up a little on the model year and/or mileage but get a TRD or give up on the options but get something newer with less mileage?

Is there any point in considering a non TRD version with the intention of upgrading it with the various tow package pieces later?

I like standard transmission. Any reason not to go with standard?

What are caps worth?

What else should I be asking myself before I jump in?

Thank you for any guidance or words of wisdom.

Cheers

A.T.

 

Yea thats a lot to tow i think with a 1st gen. A 2nd gen will take that no prob, my dad towed my 1st gen easy on a big car trailer.

TRDs come with a few different pluses. The Offroads come with an E locker, which is pretty nice if you like to wheel.

Upgrading the rear suspention can help you towing.

Get a standard i say! They are going extint! and fun but the 2nd gens auto is very nice.

caps..im assuming you mean toppers, can be pricey brand new. Like 400-600 bucks or more. But you can find used ones cheaper usually.

Im a first gen guy so idk what you should be check if you go used.

 

The 2nd gen rear suspensions are a little on the light side, I would recommend Firestone airbags to help with towing that 911, your leafs will love you and everything will last longer.

 

Aloha and welcome to TW

 

caps are pricey.. just got a leer 700 .. 1k without install!!

 

welcome!! Second gen all day long, the auto trans having 5 gears makes all the difference!!!

 

Hey Guys

Thank you for the speedy replies.

Coming from a Rav, and having lived, until now, in a big city, the smaller 1st Gen Tacomas always appealed to me. But I'm leaning to a 2nd gen now because of my towing ambitions.

I found a couple more trucks on the web last night. This is tricky. There are so many variables or options. Double Cab, Access cab. TRD or not. Manual or not. I've got my eye on an Access Cab 4x4 TRD Standard Tran, the right color, everything I want. Last night I spotted a couple double cab versions, not my favorite color, similar or less mileage, maybe as much as $5k less.

How much box length am I giving up with the Double Cab verses the Access Cab? I had thoughts of sleeping in the back when I'm camping at the track. (This may also be very important if my better half gets wind of all this. )

I'll look into the airbags.

Love the pic of the dog. My cat does the same thing.

Thanks for the welcome.

A.T.

 

Vintage Racing A.T. ???

 

The short bed is five feet long, the longbed is six, unless you and your other half are midgets, i would say get the six foot bed. The doublecab's back seats convert to form a flat plastic surface which is great to stack stuff on. I put tools that i don't want to leave in the bed there. the seats are full size which is good. I couldn't imagine owning an access cab, there is just not enough room for me.

 

you can always sleep with the tailgate down in the 5ft bed.... but it seems like a long bed may suite you best.

and towing that much with a 1st gen... idk i think the the 3.4l first gen has a 3500 tow limit.

personally i love first gens, but for towing that weight you may want a 4.0 2nd gen.. personally i would also get the 4door if you can find one that you want.

and x2 on the air bags!!

 

Regular, Access or Double cab is all about who will be driving in your truck. If it's just you there may not be a need for a double cab. If you have a family you want to cart around, there is no question here: double cab.

I'm biased towards the short 5' bed because it took me forever to decide myself. You can still haul a 4wheeler on a short bed in case you wanted to.
Double cab long bed is huge. It's been compared to as a boat for a reason and it's harder to park it too.

Regular or Access cab with long bed looks disproportional to me. Unless you're a construction worker a long bed just doesn't seem right.

It sounds like a 2nd gen is your best pick because of the towing.

I like manual transmissions but I don't believe it was available in the model Tacoma I ended up getting. That said, this tranny is doing really well.

Good luck, and welcome to TW. You did good coming here and doing your research before buying. We've got some great folks here.

ETA: missed the part of sleeping in the bed. Well, having never slept in my 5ft bed I can't say how it would be, but you may have your answer there.

 

Yeah, parking took a little getting used to, but, considering the fact that I can haul people and a lot of stuff at the same time works since I am a tradesman.
Manuals can be had for the DBLCB but they are very rare.

 

Welcome to TW from Sparks, NV

 

Hey Guys

Thanks again for the feedback. So much to think about. In the end it's a question of what's actually available on the used market. Although, I do have my eye on an '06 Access Cab 4x4 TRD, the right color, maybe a little more miles than I'd like but if it's clean I could live with it. I need to go see it. It's a bit of a trip.

One thing that could take some getting used to is the under side of trucks around here. I took very good care of my '01 Rav. It's super clean with almost no rust underneath. Rust, atleast surface rust, seems to be a given on the Tacomas I've seen. Yes, I'm in Canada. Is that to be expected?

A.T.

 

Welcome

 

JRSYJAY

Here's my boy. He loves the guitar case.

Tacoma Mike

Would love to do some vintage racing. The only thing stopping me is a truck and trailer. At the moment the car is still plated and on the road so I'm doing DE events with the PCA. I'm totally hooked.

Anyone else here pulling a track car with their Tacomas?

A.T.

 

I have a base quad (sort of )with a tow package.
v6. 6500 lb capacity ( check sig)

gen one forget it.
don't need a trd for the tow. but it has to be factory.

It's all up to you on what you can live with.
I agree you did your homework and it makes it so much easier to answer.

As far as sleeping then a 6' bed would be a better idea but one of those tent top things with the gate down would be fine, unless you had the back filled with racing stuff.

 

Hey Mike

Did you say you go racing? Is your truck standard or auto? I think tranny type is moving down my list of priorities. I think I'd prefer standard but there sure are more autos available.

A.T.

 

Yea I'm very lucky to wrench and crew for some very exotic cars.

Our rig is way to big for a Tacoma. We use a Tundra with enclosed trailer.
Hope i wasn't misleading you.
With a factory tow package of gen 2 of #6500 with a open trailer with brakes and a 911 you should be ok.
STD or auto. both have pro's and cons.
I've towed with both so it's up to you.

 

Okay. I know it's hard to believe but after almost 2 years I'm so close I can't stand it. I've looked at too many trucks. And everyone had some kind of mysterious story. I finally narrowed things down. TRD, Access Cab, Standard, Grey, Silver or Red, less than 150k kms. the least rust I can find for under $20k.

I think I found it.

'07, 114k kms, Red. One owner mostly dealer serviced. New front rotors and pads, rears serviced, brand new Michelin rubber. new plugs and fresh drive train fluids at 80k. Drives straight, brakes straights, seems to run smooth and pull well. Really clean exterior.

Buying from a dealership, sales manager is an acquaintance. Unfortunately it's too far from me to get a ppi at my dealership.

I've lowered my expectation regarding the underside rust situation around here. I think this truck isn't bad, better than most but stills bugs me.

They'll take my '01 Rav (307,000kms) on a trade.

I'll post a couple pics.

Any tips at this point would be helpful. What questions should I be asking at this point? I think I'm about to pull the trigger then I have another look at my pics of the underside.

Thanks.
A.T.